Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-12
THE MARuNE CORPS.


THHE MARINE CORPS.
How it, Efficieney May Be Increased.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. m sHs ANNUAL REPORT OF COL
AcAUIsY-AS NcRsAss or rHn coRrs rR0Kp,
wnA hsrIxA AccoxNoDAf1oNs foR rnR MEN.
Col C. q. McCauley has submitted to the secre.
tafy OF the Navy his annual report on the Marine
Cofp& He states that on October 1, 1887, there
were Lisa enlisted men In the corps. $50 OF whom
were % board ships in commission and e6S doing
duty at the several shore seations There are but
70 omcers on the active list, the present law re-
curing It to be reduced to rs. He renews his
Recommendation that some increase in the higher
grades be made. with better distribution OF ON
cefa twelve second lieutenants he considers
totally inadequate TO- the duty required.
Az NcREAsB or FIVE HUNDRED PRrvArEs
IL urgently demanded, with even the limited mum.
Der OF vessels now In the Navy and In commission.
The report says there are not enough men left on
It constantly happens that it is necessary TO send
men 70 sea be ore they are properly instructed In
al tneir duties soldier should have &C least one
Much Of the desertion from the ships is caused 6y
snls iscs; the men not being familiar with the SER
vice, become dissatisfied with snip life The same
60 many dssertions on shore, the men being over
worked. Nowhere In the Army are the men 90
constanty on guard duty and drill as In the Ma
BUILDING OF BARRACKS REcoxxRxpsp.
COL McCauley renews his recommendations for
An appropriation Of 800 900 10 build barracks and
quarters at the Norfolk navy.yard. This matter
has oeen brought forward year by year, he says,
s,nce me closs Of the war but without result
not equal TO tue brick building for cattle near by
ana tne Officers have no quarters and live at long
distances from the men. The Antietam, at League
e a
rotten as to I'LL with water ana settle In the mud
having now some 10 feet OF water in the hold. The
risk OF an epidemic Of fever. Either this post
should oe broken up altogether, and the men dis
snOutea 70 other stations, or the appropriation
racks.
10 GET BETTER CLASS OF RECRUITS.
Frequent inspections OF the different posts
during the year show them all to be In a credita-
Die state OF discipline and efficiency. Recruiting
has been carried on as usual at New York, Phila-
oelphla and San Francisco, and at the posts, but
owing to the limited appropriations the results are
not as satisfactory as they would be II recruiting
omceS could be opened In country towns, where II
cured.
for the expenses OF the paymasters service for the
nscal year ending June 30, 1889. amount to
s663 7s1.42 The amount appropriated for 1888
was $751;, 2.ss. The estimates for the Quarter
IudslcI department Tor the year ending June 30,
iSs9 amount to s3Os, 56O.55. The appropriations
The TaxsLicn Cases.
ATTORNEY RIDDLE FILES THE ANSWER OF THE DIS
TRICT COMMISSIONERS.
This morning Mr.. Riddle, for the District Com.
missioners, filed their answer to the ninth case Of
the forty -four instituted by Messrs Birney Biz.
ney against the District and United States
Treasurer Hyatt to determine the validity OF tax
lien certificates on property issued for work done
under the old Board Of Public Works, and Messrs.
Btrney Birney moved that the case be certified
BY Judge Cox TO be heard In the Court in General
the reco d or the property OF Mr.. W. Ii. Frazer.
and there are sixteen exhibits appended embracing
WORK, the statements Of the cost made By Mr..
Thee. Lay, and the assessment made by Mr.
FORSYTH and other papers submitted for the In
The complainant alleges that Messrs Seay and
FORSYTH had no authority for making statements
OF costs and the assessments, and that there was
was not made in the first case Or the series that
the present case Is regarded as the strongest. On
Monday the petitioner will ask the General Term
10 NIX an early day Tor the hearing.
Rock Creek and the Proposed Park.
IMPROVEMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDER CONSIDER
ALTON FOR LONG TIME.
The project for the improvement OF Rock Creek
is not Of recent date. 1t is subject which meets
the eye OF every District Commissioner as soon as
he enters upon his official duties. In every in
stance at the eleventh hour some UNFORESEEN
obstacle has arisen to prevent the contamination
Of the matter and 1t has been laid aside
for the succeeding Commissioners to deal
with. This is the first time it has come before the
present Commissioners, and Messrs. Webb and
Wheatley speak very favorable OF its chances OF
success II Is probable that at the same time they
urge the passage or a bill for this improvement
they Will again present to Congress the bill "to
authorize the Commissioners OF the District OF
Columbia to condemn land on Rock Greek for the
purpose OF park to be called Rock Creek Park -
1t will be remembered that this bill passed toe
Senate at the last session OF Congress, but wound
up Its career In the House.
Reference to the fles OF the District Commission
ers Ofce shows that as far back as 1885 this Rock
Creek Park matter had assumed definite form.
The Commissioners still retain papers signed by
w. N. Dunn and A. p. Brown, II. d. Walbridge and
j. p. Klingle, In which they agreed to donate GER
tain land for this purpose.
In reference to the Rock Greek Improvement
the retaining OF the valley-it Is suggested that
stock company purchase the land in that region
and make the improvement projected. IL Is
claimed that the increased value or the land re-
naming would amply repay them for the expense
incurred and leave q handsome margin OF profit.
About forty acres Of land could be reclaimed and
SUD- Is claimed, at an average OF at least 81 per
foot, yielding total OF over 81 100000. The esti-
mated cost OF the improvement Is about $500, 900.
Local Notes.